Today was the day! To go through the Corinth Canal which has the world’s most expensive passage fee if you consider
the short length of the canal, only 6 km. As you can see from the pictures, it
is quite a spectacular canal with its steep walls with the highest point 76m. It is one way canal (at time) so you
might have to wait for the boats going the opposite direction.
We arrived to
the breakwater outside the west canal entrance around 9 am. We were in radio
connection with the canal pilot authorities who asked us to wait outside the
breakwater. Only 5 minutes the last westward going boat had left the canal and
the authorities called us over the radio and asked us to enter the canal. 20-30
minutes later we reached the canal authorities on the east side of the canal
where we had to stop for paying the fee. The longer boat the higher fee, 225€
for us. I guess you can more fun for that money, still it was an exciting experience.
The authority personnel were not unfriendly, but worked like robots and asked
each boat owner to immediately leave the quay after had paid the fee.
We left and hoisted the sails. We had good winds and aimed for the
armada of cargo ships lying for anchor some few nautic miles away. The wind was
not stable, it changed both the directions and the intensity a number of times.
After been tacking amongst the cargo ships for some time we got tired and took
down the sails and continued south along the Peloponnese’s coastline by motor heading
the little town Korfos.
Two hours later we were moored at Stavedo’s taverna for free including
free water and electricity, of course under the condition we had at least one
meal there.
After a light lunch we took the dinghe to a closeby beach and spent a
few afternoon hours swimming and sipping drinks under the olive trees of the
cafeteria garden next to the beach. A nice relaxing afternoon.
Sally then called the German/English couple we had met in Corinth
together with the unofficial harbor master of Corinth Town, Jonathan, yesterday
and asked them if they would like to join for dinner or a drink. We had got their
business card and we knew they were living in Korfos.
They came along with another German family, who had rented one of their
two houses, including two children and
all the eight of us had a wonderful dinner and a pleasant evening together.
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